The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-18
HUNTING THE ALLIGATOR.
A Perilous Sport and It's Remuneration-Util-
izing the Hide of the Big MOuthed Saurian.
Ipeeial to the 1ndiarapolis Journal

Special to the 1ndaSapoiis Journal
NEWARK. n. j., Dec. 16.-Tnis correspond
emit a few weeks ago gave an account OF the big
trade in Kangaroo skins by some CT the promi-
nent leather manufacturers of this city. The
peril that attended the securing Of the
hides In Australia was detailed. The
kangaroo hide is not the only unique
skin in great demand here. The skins OF
snakes and alligators also CONSTITUTES an enor-
nous business. Satchels, valises. grips, pocket
books reticule 8. slippers and hosts of other
articles are made from the knaegy coverings OF
old saurians, whose early youth had been spent
on the sunny side of messy logs in the silent and
verdure- bound bayous of the South. In 1880
alligator skins made their advent meeting with
q big reception. Their popularity increased un-
til in 1884 it reached a maximum. and the hides
sold for $75 per dozen, the supply then being too
small limitations made of cowhide and other
leather, almost drove the legitimate article to
the wall, especially electrotype press was
invented for counterfeiting the original. Grad
ually people were educated mp to the point OF
distinguishing the legitimate leather, and 1t
again increased in popularity, until now the de-
mand is steady and large with the skins going
off at $35 per dozen.
In II. @. Salomons Hamburg Cordovan Tan
merry. in this city, there is large building and
large force OF hands confined alone to working
and the Everglades. in Florida, the princi-
pal haunts of the animals and many men make
alligator hunting business They disappear
into the fastness of the State on Sc venth- month
trips, and r. g. Solomon keeps force steadily
employed all the year round. An idea may De
gained of the magnitude of this department when
it is learned that it alone turned out over OOO
skins last year, which makes the proprietor the
largest manufacturer of alligator leather III this
country. Besides supplying the home demand
he ships large quantities to Europe. The hunt
allowed shoot
out at night armed with harpoons and carrying
dark lanterns. Upon seeing the light the ALI
gator wheeZes, becomes Rgtated and opens wide
his formidable jaws in selfdefense. Protected
by the darklantern. the hunter finds no diff
fculty in approaching close to his victim When
near enough he thrusts the harpoon into the
gators" tongue and the latter runs away,
rying the weapon with him. Every motion and
every obstacle met with drives the harpoon in
his game dead. The skin is stripped off and the
belly, the only part used meat. is salted. For
general toughness and durability alligator skin
has proved itself staple commodity.
Alligator hunting, whom not INDUCED in at
long range and with good rifles, is not child's
play, but is attended with decided risk. In Kis-
simmee City, Fla. lives a celebrated hunter
known as "Allieator'' Platt- His sobriouet Is
we'll earned. His method consists of jumping
into the alligator-infested streams. soottnR his
game, and if necessary, diving under the reptile
with the nutmeg-grater back He then works
around get his fingers into the monsters
eyes, then jumping upon its back he rides it to
the shore, whore it is despatched. alligator"
Ferguson, another well-known character in the
land of the Dismal Swamp. boasts OF having
killed more alligators than any other living
man. The snars and growls, enashings
of ugly teeth, and the swish of the pom
derous tails are music to his ears. He decoys
the animals to the shore by twisting the curled
tails of little porkers until their agonized saueals
cause warty noses to sprout up through the
water, while the owners OF the noses make for
an anticipated meal. When they are within
reaching distance the hunter dispatches them.
Another method he uses is perfect imitation OF
a dogs bark, which decoys alligators to their
DOOM The tanning of the scaly skins of huge
boa-copst-ictors, sent from South America and
India and those OF venomous serpents of all
descriptions, forms distinctive branch of the
industry of the Hamburg Cordovan Tannery.
These skins used for pocket-books, and many
of them are sent to Paris. where they embellish
the costumes of fair Parisians Skins of this
description very expensive, the covering of
a twenty-fye-foot boa bringing from $50 to $50.
LAWRENCE S. Moor.